Landmark Prostate Cancer Trial Shows Combination Therapy More Than Doubles Survival in Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer Patients with DNA Repair Defects
PCCTC Investigator Dr. Maha Hussain to Present BRCAAway Trial Results Showing Median Survival Exceeding 5 Years with Abiraterone Plus Olaparib at 2026 ASCO GU Symposium
CHICAGO, IL – The Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium (PCCTC) today announced that lead investigator Maha Hussain, MD, FACP, FASCO, from the Division of Hematology and Oncology and Deputy Director at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, will present groundbreaking overall survival results from the BRCAAway trial at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU).
The phase 2 BRCAAway trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03012321) demonstrates that the combination of abiraterone/prednisone and olaparib as first-line therapy significantly extends survival in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have DNA repair defects (BRCA 1, 2 or ATM). Patients treated with the combination therapy achieved a median overall survival of 68 months (more than 5 years), compared to 28 months with abiraterone alone and 37 months with olaparib alone.
Key Findings:
The multi-center, open-label, randomized trial enrolled patients with progressive mCRPC harboring homologous recombination repair mutations (HRRm) in BRCA1/2 and/or ATM genes. With a median follow-up of 46 months:
Combination therapy (Arm 3) achieved median survival of 68 months with a 60-month survival rate of 55%
Abiraterone alone (Arm 1) achieved median survival of 28 months with a 60-month survival rate of 31%
Olaparib alone (Arm 2) achieved median survival of 37 months with a 60-month survival rate of 42%
The combination therapy reduced the risk of death by 61% compared to abiraterone alone (HR=0.39) and 49% compared to olaparib alone (HR=0.51)
"These overall survival results are remarkable and build upon our previously reported progression-free survival findings," said Dr. Hussain. "The combination of abiraterone and olaparib was well tolerated and resulted in significantly improved survival compared to either agent used alone or sequentially in patients with BRCA1/2 or ATM alterations."
This data supports Dr. Hussain’s 2024 ASCO GU oral presentation in which the combination was shown to result in a longer progression-free survival vs either agent alone or sequentially.
Clinical Implications:
The BRCAAway trial represents an important advance for patients with mCRPC and DNA repair defects, a population that comprises approximately 20-30% of advanced prostate cancer patients. The study provides strong evidence for combining these targeted therapies rather than using them sequentially, potentially changing the treatment paradigm for this patient population.
About the Trial:
BRCAAway was a multi-center phase 2 trial that randomized 61 eligible patients with progressive mCRPC and HRRm who had no prior exposure to PARP inhibitors or abiraterone. The trial also included an exploratory arm for patients with noncanonical HRRm. The study was funded by AstraZeneca, conducted across 15 leading cancer centers nationwide, and managed by the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium (PCCTC).
Presentation Details:
Title: Overall Survival from the Phase 2 Trial of Abiraterone, Olaparib, or Abiraterone + Olaparib in First-Line Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) with DNA Repair Defects (BRCAAway)
Presenter: Maha Hussain, MD, FACP, FASCO
Meeting: 2026 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium
Session Title: Oral Abstract Session A: Prostate Cancer
